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At the center of the most vital human-plant relationship in history, Papyrus evokes the mysteries of the ancient world while holding the key to the world’s wetlands and atmospheric stability.

From ancient Pharaohs to 21st Century water wars, papyrus is a unique plant that is still one of the fastest growing plant species on earth. It produces its own “soil”―a peaty, matrix that floats on water―and its stems inspired the fluted columns of the ancient Greeks. In ancient Egypt, the papyrus bounty from the Nile delta provided not just paper for record keeping―instrumental to the development of civilization―but food, fuel and boats. Disastrous weather in the 6th Century caused famines and plagues that almost wiped out civilization in the west, but it was papyrus paper in scrolls and codices that kept the record of our early days and allowed the thread of history to remain unbroken. The sworn enemy of oblivion and the guardian of our immortality it came to our rescue then and will again.

Today, it is not just a curious relic of our ancient past, but a rescuing force for modern ecological and societal blight. In an ironic twist, Egypt is faced with enormous pollution loads that forces them to import food supplies, and yet papyrus is one of the most effective and efficient natural pollution filters known to man. Papyrus was the key in stemming the devastation to the Sea of Galilee and Jordan River from raging peat fires (that last for years), heavy metal pollution in the Zambezi River Copperbelt and the papyrus laden shores of Lake Victoria―which provides water to more than 30 million people―will be crucial as the global drying of the climate continues. 8 page insert, illustrations throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Is there anything that papyrus can’t do? The tall, tassel-topped reed can be made into boats, mats, baskets, ropes, and, of course, paper. But its greatest usefulness may be serving as a natural water treatment plant, a role that occupies much of Gaudet’s presentation of a plant he has intensively studied. Describing various regions of Africa where papyrus swamps still exist, Gaudet explains their ecological effect of keeping water clean, their potential to ameliorate pollution, and the contextual politics of water use. Along the Nile River, at Lake Tanganyika and environs, and further south on the Zambezi and Okavango Rivers, Gaudet touts the potential of papyrus to contribute to solutions of neighboring countries’ conflicts over water. But papyrus-the-peacemaker is not what most readers associate with the plant; it is ancient Egypt, with which Gaudet begins his book. Noting its former range (little papyrus grows in modern Egypt), Gaudet ambles from properties of papyrus that underlie its usefulness to its ubiquitous depiction in pharaonic art and monumental architecture. Offering abundant information, Gaudet’s combination of environmental advocacy and botanical objectivity forms a unique resource about a unique organism. --Gilbert Taylor

Review

“This fascinating and beautifully written book is an absolute eye opener into the extraordinary world of papyrus. John Gaudet has a remarkable story to tell, and he tells it extremely well. This is a wonderful, enlightening book with an important message for those concerned with the fragile ecology of our world.” - Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

“A versatile plant that has played a huge ecological and economic role, papyrus is brought into focus by John Gaudet in this outstanding book – a fascinating read, an enlightening story.” - Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

“A fascinating account of the plant that provided the world with paper for the first four thousand years of its history. I learned a lot from this book, not only about papyrus but also about how wetlands can serve as filters for waste-water and how marshes and tropical swamps can help conserve valuable water. Lively and well written.” - Jean-Daniel Stanley, Senior Scientist Emeritus, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

“One of the ways that papyrus changed the world was by providing the model, both structural and spatial, for the first temple complexes. The history of western architecture begins with the papyrus plant. John Gaudet tells a fascinating tale of the transmutation of vegetable into mineral, of graceful stems and umbels into the first stone columns, and of gladed swamps into sacred precincts. Architects and architectural historians should read this book and learn more about the beautiful and useful plant that inspired the earliest works of monumental architecture.” - Colin Davies, Former Editor of the Architects’ Journal and Professor of Architectural Theory at London Metropolitan University

Top customer reviews

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A wonderful book that should be in the personal library of every student and lover of Africa. As a scientist, Dr. Gaudet has succeeded in making the complex science of papyrus and the habitats where it occurs accessible to lay people. Along the way, he has told us the wonderful story of Africa, the role papyrus played in shaping the Egyptian civilization, and the promise papyrus can still fulfill for future gene rations if it is wisely managed throughout Africa. Highly recommended!

Chuck McAlexander in The Linnean Society of NY Newsletter vol 68 (2014) said: in sum, Papyrus by John Gaudet is one of the most satisfying and informative non­fiction books I have read in a good while. I strongly recommend it to all. Had there been even a single percent of the information in this book presented in the class where I first heard the word papyrus, I would have had a much better understanding of just how important this single plant was to the history of mankind and life on planet Earth.

An unusual book that deals with an antique, watery, floating archaic world where the earliest boats, houses and temples were made from the stems of papyrus, and papyrus rope was used to move monuments and later build pyramids and craft items around the house. Turn the page and read about the same plant now hard at work saving Africa from an environmental onslaught in the modern world. Who knew papyrus was so important? This seems to be one of the best kept secrets of our times now revealed. To say the least, it is an enlightening book.

A well written and readable paean to the humble plant that influenced the course of civilization by John Gaudet. He details the uses of papyrus for building dwellings, boats, rope and of course as a medium of recording that civilization. He tells of the Egytian believe that papyrus would deter crocodiles. He writes of an encounter with a 5 meter croc that proved it true..

Most of us have never given papyrus a second thought. John Gaudet makes a convincing case of why we should. This is a serious piece of work, jam-packed with facts, and therefore, not an easy read. But it is beautifully written, phenomenally well researched, and worth the time.

Many people have eagerly awaited this book and I'm pleased to report that it does not disappoint; this is the definitive, intriguing account of one of the world's most fascinating plants, consummately written by its most distinguished expert, Dr John Gaudet.

Believe the reviews! This is an important book and a fascinating read! Could the introduction of papyrus change what is happening to Louisiana's swamps and coastline, Florida's Everglades, or other endangered U.S. wetlands? Read this book and gird for action!